China's health authorities have started an
inspection of vaccinations nationwide this month, the National Health and
Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) announced Friday. According to the NHFPC, authorities will keep
track of purchases and distribution of vaccines as well as vaccination records
to ensure legal trade and use of properly handled vaccines. All disease control and prevention control
agencies nationwide are subject to the inspection, and at least 20 percent of
hospitals and clinics providing vaccination services will undergo random
checks, the NHFPC added. To enhance
management of vaccines, the NHFPC has also revised its health supervision rules
to demand inspections on purchases, storage and transport records of vaccines
as well as vaccination records. A
scandal broke in March in which millions of dollars' worth of improperly stored
or expired vaccines were sold to patients nationwide. Following the scandal, the country has
carried out a series of measures to fix the loopholes in the distribution of
vaccines, including banning drug wholesalers from selling vaccines and
reforming distribution channels for the country's non-compulsory vaccines.